Visible index



Aug. 5 1924.

W. A. RINGLER 1 VISIBLE mnsx Filed March 10 Allomey:

WHIM A. RINGLER', OF PHILADELYHIA, PENNSYLVAN'IA, ASSIGNOB TO THE GLOBE-WEBNICKE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF M0.

' VISIBLE INDEX.

Application filed March 10, 1922. seriai'iro. 542,575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM 'A. 'RINGLER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadel- ES phia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Visible Indexes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to card index de- 0 vices of the so-called visible index type, in

which a series" of index cards are supported in a frame, with the freeedges of the cards projecting one beyond the other so as to leave a narrow ortion of a surface of each card exposed a ong its free edge, which portion is adapted to carry the name, address, identification number, or other suitable in- I formation or data in a position'to be always visible. An object of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting the cards in position, which will enable therapid insertion or withdrawal 'of a=cardat will, anywhere in the index, without removal or re-' v'25 arrangement of the other cards; which will permit of ready access to both .sides of any card for the purpose of obtaining information therefromor entering addltional information thereon, without removing the vcard from the frame; which prevents the cards from falling out or becoming disar-' ranged when the frame is shifted todifferent positions; with which an index card may "be uickly removed from its carrieror reapp 'ed thereto, without removing the carrier from the supporting means; and which is simple, compact, convenient and inexpensive; A further object is to provide an im proved index card carrier which may be inex- 4 pensively'manufactured from'sheet material. A further object is to provide an improved index card which may" be flexed adjacent to its attached edge without danger of breakage or the formation of sharp bends therein. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description '.of

anembod'nnent of the invention, and the novel features willbe particularly pointed -outinclaims.

5 Inthe accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan of an index device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. '2 is a sectional elevation of a card in its carrier;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan of a card and its carrier, in the relative positionswhich they assume when the card is being I inserted into the carrier; I

Fig. 4 is an edge view of a carrier;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the index card when flexed;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified type of card carrier; s

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the same; and Fig. 8 is a cross sectional elevation of the same. I

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 aframe 1, which may conveniently be formed of sheet metal, is provided on opposite sides with. inturned peripheral edge flanges 2 which extend parallel with the face of the frame, so as to provide internal peripheral grooves. The. grooves along opposite sides of the frame are utilized as guideways for the card carriers 3. The card carriers are each formedof a flat strip of sheet material, which may conveniently be of sheet metal, having the ends looped and doubled back thereon to form enlarged terminals 4, which slide in the guideways'of the frame, with the flat face of the carrier parallel with the face of the frame. The carriers normally abut against one another, edge to edge, and

the .enlarged terminals 4 prevent one car I edge portion which is adapted to be inserted.

- the index card therein. One oove of each fcarrler, such as that formed y the tongue into the grooves of the-carrier and anchor tongue 5. One

ment of the card carriers.

6, has a greater width between the side walls of the groove than the corresponding width.

of the opposite groove of the same strip. The free edge of the folded edge 7 of the index card is inserted into the groove having the narrower width, and the doubled back edge of the card is inserted into the groove having the greater width as shown clearly in ,Figure 2. With this arrangement, the cards may lie substantially fiat over the of the tongues, such as 5, which forms one of the. grooves is extended nearer the ends of the carrier than the other tongue which forms theopposite groove of the same carrier, so as to facilitate the insertion therein of the of the index card? A holding member 9 is provided with extensions 10 which project into the guideways in which the carriers slide, so as to secure the holding member to the frame with provision -for adjustment along the same inthe direction of adjust- The holding member is preferably a fiat strip of. sheet metal having a pair of slots or apertures 11 and 12 therein, extending lengthwise of the wise along the face of the frame beneath the carriers. The strip 13 passes through both of the apertures 11 and 12, preferably enter ing and leaving the member from the under face thereof, so that as the holdlng member is adjusted along the frame, it will be frictionally held in any adjusted position. The holding member is'shifted along the guide- Ways to abut the carriers in the frame, and hold the latter together and against one end of the frame so as to prevent separation of the carriers sufiiciently to permit of the assumption by any carrler of a diagonal position which won d allow it to drop out of the frame; The holding member is also pro vided with an aperture 14 with one edge ofiset which provides a ledge formanual engagement when the holdin member is shifted along the guideways o the frame. The face of the frameagalnst which the carriers abut is provided with a pair of elevated ribs 15, which extend lengthwise of theof rame,w so as to form rails 1n contact with theennder face of the carriers and prevent inward flex-. ure of the same and also reduce sliding fric tion during movement of the carriers-and holding member along the frame.

Each index card is also. referably provided adjacent to the folded edge portionhby 1 a.

which itis attached to the carrier, w

row 'of spaced apertures 16 extending parallel with the offset edge for facilitating the flexure of the card with respect to its atofiset or angular end i 13 of fabric or spring steel, prefmosses spaced apertures 16, with a plurality of scorings 17 which extend parallel to the attached edge. v When the body of the card is flexed with respect to its attached edge, as shown in Figure 5, the scorings will permit bending of the .card at a lurality of points, each of which points of exure is at a scoring, so that the total length of flexure is divided up among the stripsbetween the scorings, and thus danger of sharp bends or breakage along the lines of flexure is largely eliminated.

In the use of the device, the frame is provided with a number of card carriers 3 which are arranged in the guideways and each is provided with an index card,'the carriers being normallmheld together at one end of the frame by means of the holdin member 9. When an index card is inserte into its carrier, it is not necessary to first removethe carrier from the frame. The card is brought into the position shown in Fig. 3, with respect to the grooves of the carrier, and the free edge of the ofiset or bent edge of the card is inserted into the end of the" groove formedby the tongue 5, and then shifted edgewise of the index card to bring the doubled-back edge of the card into the end of the groove formed by the tongue 6, the movement being continued until the card is brought centrally of the carrier, an intermediate position being shown in dotted lines in Fi re 1. v To remove a card from its carrier, it is merely necessary to flex an end of the card sufiiciently to clear the adjacent side flange 2, and then the card may be pulled edgewise of itself from the carrier.

If it is desired to insert additional carriers between the carriers already in the frame, it is merely necessary to shift the holding member away from the other carriers, and then separate the carriers at the point where the insertion is to be miade. An additional carrier is then placed in a diagonal position with respect to the frame and rotated in a direction to carry the terminal ends 4 eneath the flanges 2, after which the carriers may be shifted together. It will be obvious that with this arrangement the framemay be disposed with the cards extending i .any desired direction and the cards n a y be easily flexed to expose either face for the addition of information thereto,1or for an inspection. The cards will remain in flexed positions with either face exposed, owing to the reduction in the-resiliency of the cards along the line of flexure caused by the apertures', scorings, or both.

' In Figs. 6,7 and 8 a slightlg modified type of card car ier is shown, t

mosses the intermediate portion of a wire 19having terminals 20 bent angularly thereto in the same plane with one another which slide in the guideways of the frame. The wire may be offset slightly as at .21 where it leaves the 7 described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention, may

be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention.

I claim 1. In a visible index device, a card carrier comprising a strip having card-receiving grooves along opposite edges of a face, the

4 grooves opening toward one another, one of said grooves extending nearer an end of the strip than the other groove to facilitate the insertion of the edge of a card in said grooves.

2. In a visible index device, a card carrier, and an index card attached along one edge to said carrier, saidcard having adjacent to its attached edge and interiorly therefrom a row of spaced apertures to facilitate the flexure of thevcard with respect to the carrier.

3. In a visible index device, a card carrier, and an index card attached along one edge to said carrier, said card having ad- I jacent to its attached edge a row of spaced apertures to facilitate the flexure of the card with respect to the carrier, the apertures being connected by a plurality of scorings to also facilitate flexure 0f the card without breaking or causing sharp bends therein.

4.111 a visible index device, a card carrier comprising a strip having opposing card-receiving grooves upon one face thereof opening toward one another, an outer wall of one of the grooves terminating at a greater. distance from the adjacent end of the strip' than the corresponding adjacent wall of the opposite groove in order to facilitate the insertion into said grooves, endwise, of an angular edge of an index element.

5. An index card having adjacent to an edge, by which it may be mounted, parallel thereto and interiorl therefrom a row of spaced apertures to acilitate fiexure of the body of the'card with respect to the said ed e. r

' The index card as set forth in claim 5 inwhich a surface of the card is provided with a plurality of spaced scorings between the apertures and. parallel .to the adacent edge to also facilitate flexure'of the body of the card without the formation of sharp bends or breakage of the-card along the line of flexure.

7 In a visible index device, a frame having guides along opposite edges, a plurality of index card carriers cooperating with said guides for sliding movement along the frame, a holding member also cooperating with said guides for sliding movement along the frame, a flexible strip connected to the ends of the frame and having an engagement with said member whereby the member may be adjusted along the frame to hold the card carriers together and be held in adjusted positions. I

8. In a visible indelix device, a frame having guides along opposite edges, a plurality of index card carriers cooperating with said guides for sliding movement along the frame, a holding member also cooperating with said guides for sliding movement along the frame, a flexible strip connected to the ends of the frame and having frictional engagement with said member, whereby the ing guides along opposite edges, a plurality of index card carriers cooperating with said guides for sliding movement along the frame, a holding member also cooperating with said guides for sliding movement alongthe frame, a flexible strip connected to the ends of the frame and passing through spaced apertures in said member whereby the member may be adjusted along theframe to hold the card carriers together and be held in adjusted positions.

10. In a visible index device, an index card carrier comprising a strip of sheet material having flanged edges forming grooves extending lengthwise of the strip, spaced from and opening towards one another, one of said flanged edges extending nearer an end of the strip than the corresponding end of the other edge whereby the insertion of an angular end'of an index card into said grooves is facilitated.

'11. In a visible index device, an index card carrier having ooves on one face extending lengthwise t ereof and opening towardsone another, one of said grooves-at one end extending'further towards the end than the other groove.

12. In a-visible index device, a member. adapted to slide between spaced 'des and having an intermediate wire portion, a card holder of sheet metal with portions bent thereorr to form card-attaching means and also embrace the wire portion toform a."

hinge connection thereto.

13. In a visible index device, a member adapted to slide between spaced card holder articulately connected t ereto so member may be adjusted along the frame to '7 ides, a

as to swing to expose to view either face ways, and having adja'eentits rear end an thereof, said holder'having opposed spaced. integral deflected portion to form agraspgrooves upon one face for detachably receiving portion, thebody part having therein a 10 mg the'bent-over edge of an index card. plurality of slots for receiving a tape.

5 14. In a visible index device, a follower In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe block of sheet metal having at its forward my signature.

end lateral extensions for travel in guide- WL A. RINGLER. 

